Minor violence in Nandigram, Singur sees large turnout

Nandigram remained at the centre of controversy on the polling day in West Bengal as supporters of the ruling CPI(M) were denied access to a large number of booths there allegedly by activists of the opposition Trinamool Congress (TC). Nandigram comes under the Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency where CPI(M) strongman Laxman Seth was pitted against Trinamool’s Shubendu Adhikary. The CPI(M) alleged that its agents were denied entry in the area and a large number of booths were captured by armed TC supporters. According to estimates by local CPI(M) leaders, at least 90 per cent of the 243 booths in Tamluk were captured by the Trinamool. Since the CPI(M) is not expecting to mop up a lead of not more than 30,000 votes from all other Assembly segments under the Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency, it might have a devastating consequence on the poll outcome of Tamluk for the party.

In the first phase of polls in the state, TC leaders had voiced similar complaints against the Left, accusing it of booth capturing in the Assembly segments of Keshpur and Garbeta under the neighboring Ghatal constituency.

Other than Nandigram, minor violence were reported from Murshidabad, Asansol and a few other places.

In Murshidabad district, a 28-year-old CPI(M) worker, identified as Kashinath Mondal, was killed when some unidentified miscreants hurled a bomb at him while he was returning home after casting vote in the Eroali village under the Jangipur parliamentary constituency. External Affairs Minister and Congress heavyweight Pranab Mukherjee contested from the seat for the second time.

While Nandigram was on the boils even on the polling day, Singur in the Hooghly constituency remained peaceful. Till afternoon, the segment witnessed about 50 per cent voter turnout. In the last panchayat elections, Singur and Nandigram were bagged by the TC.